Worst-Ever Real Merchandise Trade Deficit Looms,
Pushing Trade Policy and Dollar Concerns to the Fore

Unstable Numbers Were Inconsistent with Related Economic Data,
In an Otherwise Not Credible Employment and Unemployment Report

Non-Comparable, Shifting Seasonal Adjustments Bloated Payroll Growth

Payroll Jobs Jumped by 313,000,
While the Count of the Household Survey Employed Jumped by 785,000,
Yet the Number of Unemployed Rose, Too?

February 2018 Unemployment Rates Changed Minimally Month-to-Month:
U.3 Eased to 4.14% versus 4.15%, U.6 Rose to 8.24% from 8.19%, and the
ShadowStats-Alternate Held at 21.8%

Private Surveying of February Labor Conditions Showed Monthly Contractions,
Annual Growth but No Economic Expansion

Fed Policy to be Pressured by a Faltering Economy and Dollar Issues

February Money Supply M1, M2 and M3 and the Monetary Base Slowed Sharply